3 takeaways from Tennessee shaking off a disastrous start at Vandy and likely locking up a CFP berth
It couldn’t have started worse, and it couldn’t have finished better for Tennessee.
After Vandy returned the opening kickoff and raced out to a 2-touchdown lead in the first quarter on the heels of another Dylan Sampson fumble, the Vols roared back.
Tennessee shook off that awful start and dominated the rest of the game for a pivotal 36-23 victory.
One would think the No. 8 Vols all but clinched a Playoff berth with Saturday’s showing, even though they’ll be idle during next week’s SEC Championship.
Here are 3 takeaways from Saturday in Nashville:
1. Nico Iamaleava stepped up and delivered arguably the most impressive performance of his young career
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
That’s what the Tennessee redshirt freshman was after the Vols couldn’t do anything right early on. Mind you, that came after Bru McCoy suffered an injury in warm-ups and was unavailable. Iamaleava instead connected with Dont’e Thornton for 28 and 86-yard scores to overcome that 2-touchdown deficit. Thornton also left Saturday’s game with an injury and didn’t return, which also happened to Squirrel White with 2:25 to play.
It didn’t matter. Iamaleava finished with 4 touchdown passes (his most vs. SEC competition) and did the heavy lifting for the Vols offense. He found Miles Kitselman and true freshman Mike Matthews in what was a 36-3 run for the visiting Vols.
Go figure that Dylan Sampson didn’t score a touchdown for the first time all season. Sampson was still dominant with 178 yards on 25 carries, though he did limp off the field on the same play that White got hurt. Fortunately for the Vols, there should be 3 weeks to get healthy before the Playoff.
Also fortunately for the Vols, Iamaleava might just be rounding into form at the perfect time.
2. Diego Pavia didn’t look healthy or effective against that Tennessee defense
It was looking like it was going to be one of those days for Pavia and the Dores … until it wasn’t. Pavia looked good early, but couldn’t sustain Vandy’s 14-0 start, which was aided by Junior Sherrill’s opening kickoff returned for a touchdown and the Sampson fumble.
Vandy couldn’t break through against the loaded Tennessee defense. It was held to 212 total yards with just 104 of them coming on 8 completions in the passing game. Pavia couldn’t shake the Vols’ defensive line, which led the way with 3 sacks of Pavia.
It was a disappointing ending for Vandy, who lost 3 in a row to end the season after it earned its earliest bowl berth in program history. For what it’s worth, Pavia participated in Senior Day festivities. His lawsuit against the NCAA to earn another year of eligibility is still pending, so it remains to be seen if that was his last regular season game of his career.
3. Tennessee can now sit back and root for chaos
Wait, didn’t I already say that the Vols were in? Yeah, but let’s remember what’s still on the line.
Tennessee wants that first-round home game. Seeds No. 5-8 will get that. In theory, Tennessee is in good shape. But remember, the 4 highest-ranked conference champs get first-round byes. That means Boise State, who was at No. 11, can leapfrog the Vols if they win the Mountain West (that seems more likely than the Big 12 champ moving past Boise State).
In other words, Tennessee is by no means a lock to earn a first-round bye even if chalk plays out. But that’s a good problem to have for the Vols.
Saturday’s comeback all but guaranteed that the Vols will be in the first 12-team Playoff. That’s about all they could’ve asked for entering 2024.
Whooo!!!
As I guide this train into the Playoff Depot, I would like to remind my readers I told you so.
I would like to remind you that you are a clown and an embarrassment.
I wonder if everyone refuses to respond, if he would go away? I also wonder if he is even a Vol fan. There of been trolls here before claiming to represent a certain team. My guess is some really do, and others just want to troll.
I was going too.
You are the reason Tennessee was in the wilderness for 15 years. You are weak. You are the reason Tennessee didn’t win the SEC in 2016. You are timid. You are the reason Tennessee folded in 2022. You are effeminate. It takes a man. It takes a fan like me confidently proclaiming in January that Nico, Heupel and Tennessee are ascendant. It takes a man. You are scared. I do not fear those with lower IQ. I demonstrated to everyone how to lead this locomotive into the playoffs. I did it despite your tears. I did it over and above you femininity. I did it over your angst. I own you and your legion of negavols. I am victorious and you are angry and embarrassed I did it over you.
Yeah, you keyboard strokes are so strong.
Yeah, your keyboard strokes are so strong.
Fuzzy, you and 20 more Tennessee pussies cried as I touted the VOLS for 11 months. You know where you stand. You know who is the alpha VOL. I guided Tennessee to the playoff on this forum despite your best efforts. You are looking up at me like PAC 12 Alabama is looking up at these VOLS.
I want to know what he’s smoking because I want some too
All the lowly negavols are upset I was right from the very beginning. I told you so.
Choo Choo needs help. Not kidding. BTW, anyone that screams about what a man they are…isn’t. Seeking treatment for personality disorder, and finding some real meaning in life beyond a game and moronic attention seeking comments might be the only hope for salvation. It is clear he has no meaningful life outside these boards, and that is pathetic.
Choo Choo’s presence here adds absolutely nothing meaningful to any discourse, and essentially ruins any thread he posts on. Perhaps ignoring him is the best way forward. That and appropriate medication and treatment.
Beta males like the above are the most angry.
If anyone is going to be an expert on beta males, it would be a simp like you.
Agree. Gives Volunteer fans a bad look with his insufferable posts. Would be a better world if he and dogs2021 were banned from this site.
“I did it over you.”
Calm down R Kelly.
I told you so.
LOL this comment wins, you can all go home
The pathetic Orange frauds will be one and done in the playoffs. They are taking up a spot for a more deserving team
hahahaha Dawgsfor Life you say that like its a bad thing. this clown thinks making it to the playoffs should make UT fans feel bad. like he has no clue about jeremy pruitt, ole botch it butch and doofus dooley…what a maroon.
Calling it now.. only one of the four conference champs will be in the National Championship Game..
I’ll take it one step further, the number 5 seed wins it all. Nice win today and congrats to locking up a CFP birth.
VOLS TCB!! GO BIG ORANGE!!
Somewhere in the recent past, I said in this forum that Vandy wasn’t scoring 40 on us. Troof!
Hope that Hugh Freeze and Kalen DeBoer were taking notes. This is how you beat Pavia. That kid is gonna feel this for a month!
Vols channeled their inner George Cafego and Jauan Jennings. Great win!
I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t think Jennings had the same impact as Cafego.
Yep. But Jennings had the George Cafego seal of approval. Right down to his cleats!
Pavia mic-ed up before the game “just give it to me 100 times and I’ll win this game by myself”
Ok Pavia. Maybe you should have given the ball to someone else in this one.
I hate Sampson didn’t get a TD, but he dominated on the ground with the help of the line.
Let’s go!!!
Pavia definitely showed another side to him today after he took the knee before halftime and threw the ball at Eason on the ground. Can’t believe there was no penalty called on that.
No clue what out Oline was doing sprinting down the field either to knock someone down who didn’t even make the tackle on Sampson. I’d love to know what his reason was because he looked heated about something.
Another weird game of officiating on both ends. But that seems to be just par for the course this year.
Sampson being left out of any awards this year is a crime. He’s easily the best RB in the SEC and arguably the best player.
Let’s get rested up and playoff ready!
I think they are in. The only thing that may keep them out is that the only big win they have had is Bama, but they still went 10-2 and if you are going to let a team like Indiana in you have to let UT in.
I think the only real wrench that could keep them out is TAMU winning out including the SECCG. That would lock them in and force them to choose between a 3 loss georgia whose 3rd loss was in the SECCG and us. Even with that I’m not sure they would keep us out.
I think the only real question at this point is whether we get a home game or not. I don’t think anyone is really questioning in general will we get in
Florida is a good win. Those guys turned the corner and are outperforming the expectations for them this season against a murderous schedule.
Also, if Vandy isn’t a good win, then they are surely a bad loss for Alabama. Right?
Kentucky’s not a good win, but…we didn’t lose to them like Ole Miss did either.
Tennessee doesn’t have that killer instinct and the ability to demolish every opponent. Who does? But, they keep on winning. Don’t they?
Vandy was most definitely a bad loss for Bama, just as bad as the Oklahoma loss. UF is going to be at best a 7 win team, Vandy is a 6 win team. I know how tough it is to win at all in the SEC but we are talking about in comparison to the teams they are going to be compared to. I may be wrong, but I think Bama is the only ranked team UT beat.
You are not wrong.
OSU lost to Michigan. I’m loving the chaos of the last couple of weeks!
I know no one from ABC/ESPN will see this, but they need to hear it. If someone chooses to watch and SEC game, and other sporting events are easily accessible, DON’T CUT AWAY FROM LIVE ACTION TO SHOW A PLAY FROM A GAME WE ARE CHOOSING NOT TO WATCH!!!! They cut away to show a Michigan INT and we missed a play from our game. It wasn’t a big play, but it is annoying. It was a little like last year when they would cut away from an SEC games to show every friggin at bat for Aaron Judge.
Ok, I got that off my chest.
LOL! I hope you feel better big guy.
LOL! I feel fine. It just annoys me when they cut away from the SEC to any other sporting event. I would feel the same if they miss live action for any SEC game for any non SEC sport.
BTW, I have lived in Cincinnati for the last 20 years. My Buckeye friends all seem to want Ryan Day fired. He has won 88% of his games. Seeing how the Vols stumbled in the wilderness for 15 years after we fired Fulmer, my advice is be careful what you wish for. That said, I cant’t imagine anyone at OSU being dumb enough to hire Derek Dooley. Yes, Pruitt was worse, but many people thought we could be a good head coach until he totally proved that he wasn’t. Stil, I would love a tape of his interview.
The play we missed was actually the catch that Brazzell made near the side line that they overturned as it was a catch. They had called it incomplete but then overturned to the correct call.
I don’t care who the coach loses to, you don’t fire a coach that went 10-2 and has the career numbers that Day has. Fate can be nasty as you said. It worked out for UGA, but every coach that is hired is thought to be good enough. The coaching carousel that happens every year shows that is not the case.
Especially when that’s from a game that your competitor is broadcasting.
Crisis averted buy Vol nation should probably take Vandy a lot more seriously from here on out.
They’re gonna be very dangerous once they recruit some better talent.
There was no Vol fan that I know of that wasn’t taking Vandy seriously. I, for one, was very concerned about this game today. I was fully aware that if UT didn’t show up today, Vandy could have won that game.
They had a way above average qb this year ( for Vandy) , but the rest of the team is decent . Most of our early problems with them is we came out sloppy and undisciplined (again) . Once we got our heads out of our butts they had nothing.
Vandy is likely not going to hold on to their coach for very long. Once he and the QB are gone, Vandy will become a floor mat once more.
Vols don’t have any way to get a bye. What is this article talking about? We are just hoping to host at this point.
If UT can ever put together a complete game, they will be very dangerous. Happy to see them shake off the bad start. Nico looked good and UT dominated more than I thought they would. Two big upsets so far, (Ohio St and Clemson) so we’ll see what happens the rest of the day. Tuesday will be interesting.
UT is dangerous now. They still have their moments of weakness, but so does every other team in the country, except Oregon to this point.
Congrats to the vols on a great season. Now if we could only get the village idiot volt to go away .
Very happy win today’s win. We got some help last week and took care of business today.
I’m very concerned about the penalties. This is unacceptable this late in the season. Anyone know if we set a program record for penalty yardage?
I don’t know if it’s a record but 13 is way too many. UT is in the top 10 of teams that average the most penalties in a game.
Good season vols. Way to take care of business. See you in the playoffs hopefully- good luck!
Good game for Tennessee. Looks like they will back door their way into the playoffs.
All I know is that with OSU losing and Miami as well we will be hosting a first round game. GA will lose to Texas so they will drip even more. GBO.
UGA will be fine against Texas.